Frustrated with Smithtown

robkoz January 5, 2013 at 05:48 am

The damage has already been done. The housing market is a dud in Smithtown because of the property taxes. The BOE must think we all have a money tree in our backyard. I really don't know what they're trying to accomplish. Also, higher taxes equals less money to sustain a healthy Long Island economy.
As for the drug situation, this has been going on since the 90's. Neighbors are still finding syringes on Lake Ave. When I moved here back in the 90's everything was affordable. It WAS the place to raise a family. Those days have been ruined by greed.

Sad day in Smithtown January 6, 2013 at 12:29 am

Just saying the same thing the other day as my party were sitting in Millenium Diner, and "enjoying" our $50 + breakfast. While looking out the window, all you can see is commuters racing to / from work in the cars, SUVs, etc. You never see a single person 'from town' having a stroll on Main Street. There is no room, no appeal, no reason !
We who own property in Smithtown are burdened with over the top real estate taxes, with simply no benefit ! Our parks are crap, our beaches are filled with trash, our town lighting is destroyed (pre and post Sandy), our infrastruction needs a make over, our school properties are decaying, etc. My goodness, what do they do with all the money ?

Brad Milano January 6, 2013 at 12:36 pm

Sadly its probably going to restore underfunded pensions.

Nesconset Dude January 6, 2013 at 02:20 pm

By the way certain folks who've been running the show for way too long pat themselves on the back I'd have to say that you're 100% incorrect and costs have been kept down. Of course, that's only going by those who pat themselves on the back. If you want to see change, start voting for the other guy, not just the Republican or the familiar name. Keep voting the same way, keep staying uninvolved, and keep making things in life convenient with no shred of sacrifice (Main Street/rt. 25 alterations anyone?) and you will continue to pay the highest taxes with no benefit outside knowing that your hard earned money is only going to pay raises and unsustainable pensions.

Kristie M January 6, 2013 at 05:22 pm

Volunteer to clean up a beach or park. Get friends together with giant garbage bags and clean up the side of one road once a month or something. Visit Blydenburgh or Caleb Smith. They are truly jewels. Kids have been smoking pot and more for generations. We used to drink in school fields and most of us are productive adults (I know that's not a solution by any means). Realize that we have to be answer and start doing any one thing, even it's only an hour a week or a month. As for taxes and politics, I have no idea. A giant uphill battle on all fronts and the most divisive. I just write and call elected officials to register my thoughts and complaints. If everyone did that once a week or once a month, maybe they would pay attention - it's only ten minutes of your time to tell them what you think.

E Baum January 6, 2013 at 07:22 pm

The drug problem has been around here since back in the 60's too. It just never went away. It is sad.

jozee January 6, 2013 at 11:41 pm

i have lived in smithtown since 1975 it use to be such a pretty little quaint town, not any more!! so many empty stores no place to even shop our taxes are high, and its not looking very pretty, i too find bottles/cans in my driveway and on my sidewalk that kids throw out car windows, i am about ready to pack it in here

CPF January 7, 2013 at 03:07 am

Does smithtown have a community board?

jozee January 7, 2013 at 01:49 pm

not that i know of, maybe we should start one on fb (closed group)

Nesconset Dude January 7, 2013 at 04:03 pm

There's the Nesconset Taxpayer's Association who tend to focus a bit on community activism. Good group, they've been defending and helping Nesconset prosper for a while now. Let's just say that instead of a nice library in Nesconset, we could have ended up with a bus depot instead if it weren't for the NTA.

So So So Sad In Smithtown January 7, 2013 at 06:14 pm

Have you tried to take you kids to any Smithtown park lately ? Pathetic ! We pick up trash each time we are there . It is our civic duty, but not our job. It has to get better !

Henry Powderly (Editor) January 7, 2013 at 08:46 pm

If you guys would like, we could create a community board-type forum on Patch. Email henry@patch.com if you like the idea.

CPF January 8, 2013 at 12:28 am

What I had in mind was a community board that meets once or twice a month to discuss area concerns and new projects they do this in the city, please see link ,
http://www.nyc.gov/html/mancb1/html/home/home.shtml It's a meeting to gather ideas collectively and present them to any of the towns governing authorities.

Nesconset Dude January 8, 2013 at 01:07 am

I believe the NTA did this initially, but it turned into just a few core members meeting every week. If you're in Smithtown, how about forming the Smithtown Taxpayer's Association? Even the St. James Taxpayer's association, etc. To truly be effective, though, they really need to have equal representation on Smithtown's board. Right now I believe the bulk of our elected officials are from Kings Park, none from Commack or Nesconset. Since there are five members, it would be a good idea to make it mandatory that the board be represented by a rep from St. James, Smithtown, Nesconset, Kings Park, and Commack to equally represent the town fairly. Right now we don't get that. Why do you think the town keeps dumping its worst nightmares on Nesconset? Not a single rep from south of rt. 347. Please, correct me if I'm wrong.

Christopher D'Antonio January 8, 2013 at 04:47 am

Don't forget Hauppauge! We may be small but we have a lot of history!

Christopher D'Antonio January 8, 2013 at 04:50 am

And the town's most important tax base!

DaddyGuru January 9, 2013 at 11:43 pm

Keep in mind our town workers are still busy with storm damage cleanup, thing will get better in time.

jozee January 10, 2013 at 12:49 am

@nesconset dude you are absolutely right, i believe its been that way for many yrs, (councilman are all from kings park) with the exception when mike fitzpatrick was in, he lived in st.james but your right we should have one council member from each area, also jane conway did not live in kp she lived in smithtown.

P. J. Miller January 10, 2013 at 04:56 am

Has anyone noticed the log jam at Rt 111 and Main Street West? Cars stay in the intersection trying to go left onto Main St - traffic does not move. You end up waiting for 2 green lights - it is a nightmare and this is 11AM! I don't understand how this was supposed to be a GOOD thing for traffic. It is creating more traffic and alot of near misses. I understand that they are trying to prevent accidents, but actually, this new traffic pattern is going to cause accidents - and I would NOT want to be the person that made that decision! This was not thought out. We have way too many cars on the road today and to try and squeeze them into one lane is not a good idea. An ambulance was trying to get through the other day and there was no where for the cars in the ONE LANE to go - and the ambulance was trying to go on the lane in the oncoming traffic lane. TOWN COUNCIL - PLEASE RE EVALUATE THIS DEADLY TRAFFIC PATTERN IT IS NOT WORKING OUT!!

P. J. Miller January 10, 2013 at 05:00 am

I have the same thing. It is disgusting. I even see people just toss things out the window. The other day I was in the 7-11 Smithtown parking lot - and the car next to me had 3 young people in it the guy in the back seat opens his door and starts throwing out all the trash in the car out the door - you should have seen what he was throwing out - bags, cans, cups, it was disgusting. then he kicks it under the car so no one would see him - disgusting. I don't see his when we travel out of state - just LI. I thought littering was a criminal offense?

P. J. Miller January 10, 2013 at 05:01 am

We should let the police use the low crime prisoners do community service and clean up the town.

jozee January 10, 2013 at 01:11 pm

it is very scary when emergency vehicles are trying to get through-- suffolk county police car almost hit me head on!! i try to stay off main st when at all possible

PH Hunt January 10, 2013 at 03:39 pm

It strikes me that this forum and more and more people are becoming aware of system-wide decay and lack of sustainability, not to mentioned certain signs of it, such as littering (selfishness, lack of awareness or respect), over-taxation (to meet unsustainable pension costs for people in certain systems), etc. It really does create a dangerous divide and I think the worst part is that nothing seems to get done - yet we all know it needs to improve.
Unfortunately I was unable to attend a presentation at Hofstra this morning on the economic trajectory of Long Island; the keynote was by an economist who looks at the economic health of Long Island. I've been reading up on analysis of trends here for some time, including when I (raised in St James) lived in another, thriving metro area on the east coast. And these trends, which are pushing us downward, include high property taxes and unsustainable public pensions, high ratio of service economy, poor transportation infrastructure, lack of skilled jobs, brain drain (due to much of the above) etc, I think that Smithtown is a great example for all of these ills: high taxes (just paid today!) to maintain public pensions while those of us in the private sector wonder about ourselves, miserable access through town and to NYC, lack of an industrial or corporate or industrial tax base and associated jobs...........etc.

scsddad January 11, 2013 at 08:47 pm

I don't think people would show up to a community board meeting. People don't even show up to BOE meetings when Mr Ehmann was screwing up the school district and they are only twice a month.

Mitch Kerr January 12, 2013 at 09:20 pm

postings like these make my day- magnificent!

Who Am I To Complain ? January 13, 2013 at 09:11 pm

Last week I went as far as to locate and collect a plastic (town) lamp post cap, that the wind blew down the street (approx 10 houses away). It sat lonely in the street, with no hope of a return to it's home. Maybe other neighbors did not recognize what it was ? Maybe it weighed too much ? I really do not know the reason, but the cap just sat curbside, waiting for another gust of wind..... Bottom line, I returned it to it's partner, and contacted the town, who restored it in it's rightful location just a day later.
I did my job and so did the town. With a little effort and consideration, we can fix the small things, but Town Hall needs to work on the BIG things !! Step up and get it done please. It is definitely not a lack of funds, but rather a lack of accountability and concern ? Who am I to complain ? I just stand in line at town hall, twice a year, and pay that hefty (as long as the Declaration Of Independence) bill ! lamppost, looked g